I took some photos of Sunshine the other day so you guys can try and help me gender him as I can't see anything but then I'm not to sure what I'm looking for bar bumps on the gills? I tried to get as close up as possible and cropped some of the photos. I noticed in the past Hanna posted photos of her fishies rears, should I do that too? I tried to get some photos of it but found it impossible. Sunshine doesn't seem to swim in a way that I can see it.

Also another question, I always thought Sunshine was a comet and he was sold to me as a comet, and I still do think he is comet. But I just have some slight doubts after seeing some of the comets on this forum and researching common goldfish. Clab's and Hanna's comets have extremely long fins/tails and I know every fish is different, but that is on of the main characteristics of a comet, right? Anyway just wondering

One thing about comets/goldfish in general, is that in pet stores, the fish usually have some smaller flaws on the fins or body shape, and that's why they're sold in pet shops Moors usually have butterfly tails, but mine has a normal fantail (and a single anal) and that's probably why he was culled, for an example I get the feeling that his body is a bit short for a comet, and the rest of the fins look quite short, because a comet usually has all the fins a bit longer than a common goldie. I dunno, if I was you, I'd say it's a sweet mix

And about the gender... The gill covers look really smooth, so I would guess that it's a little girl But I've judged most of my fish from their vent, so I haven't got a trained eye for gill covers yet xD Let's see what the others have to say!

I cannot see anything on the gill covers, but I admit I never seen breeding tubercules before.So Sunshine could be a girl and I vote she is a COMET, maybe with a little common in her like Nossie said.Common goldfish do have a very compact tail fin, and yours Andrea is nice and wide, maybe not as forked as"pure" comets but still very nice and long

Wow, Andrea these are some fantastic pictures!! I almost think Sunshne might be a boy from the first picture.If you raise the water temp a bit by adding a bit warmer water at the next water change, you might see the tubercles more pronounced. Of course if you got another fish, you would definately see some spawning behavior whether they were both boys or girls. Look for the tubercules on the front fins, along the inside, down the fins in a straight line and on the head and gill plates.Body shape is a good clue too and Sunshine doesn't seem to have the shape of an egg bearer. I think Sunshine is a comet because of his beautiful tail but probably a cross between a comet and a common like the rest said.What a gorgeous fish he is anyways!!!

Here is a picture I scanned of male and female goldfish.Once you would see those tubercles you will very easily be able to spot them on other fish.The top fish is of a male shubunkin. The bottom of a female common.Can you see the difference now?

Thankks guys Glad to hear I have a little mixture just like my dog I'm thinking she is a female now too as I'm looking where Mindemae said and I can't see any bumps. But next time I do a water change I'll add some slightly warmer water and have a closer look. It's weird though because to me Sunshine has always seemed like a boy, just a feeling I guess. But I am a bit confused about she's body shape, it does seem a bit more boxed up than a females should be.

The tubercles really show up when a male fish is in the breeding/spawning mood.Other than that, they are almost invisable. You can only see faintly where they had been. Well whatever gender Sunshine is, he/she is gorgeous.

Yep, there are no breeding tuburcules on your fish.So, we have YET ANOTER SUNSHINE? Wow, this is a popular name! I think we should make a "Parade of Sunshines" thread and just take a poll of how many we have!

According to sexing goldfish I came across some other info on the net. Apart from breeding tubercules on the male goldfish there are different signs in fineage:The ventral fin: its first ray is very stiff and thicker on femalesThe pectoral fin:the first ray of the pectoral fin is thicker and more stiff in males. Its shape is also more pointier than the females one. Female pectoral fins are rounder and the first ray is not that thick.Another difference is the shape of their vents: male: oval and concave, female: round and convex.

I can see you getting your magnifiers out now, and inspect, LOL..... well, we wanna know what we've got...

Andrea, I had a closer look at the pix you posted: Sunshine has got rounder pectoral fins. I vote Sunshine is a GIRL. So have a look at her ventral fin. Can you recognoze the first ray? Is it thick and stiff?

Hanna that was perfect information and I do believe I have a little girl In Sunshine. The first ray is alot thicker and stiff and is incredibly noticeable now that I see it. Thanks guys I gotta spread the news now haha.

I can't help but being a tad suspicious about our gender decisions! xDEven though it's somehow so clear to see on our fish, the rough gill covers, the fin rays, the vents... why does it say in every book, and on every internet source that it's so HARD to distinguish genders in goldfish?

No! No! No! I don't want to be grandma yet I'll be quite happy if I get another girl and Sunshine can just be best friends with it hehe. I'm definitely giving it a girl's name, though it makes no difference, it gives off girly vibes haha.

Nossie, I dunno either, perhaps if they are VERY young and as every one is unique, like us humans , sometimes it may be easier and sometimes a bit harder to recognize. I always believed there MUST be sth else bar the tubercules, so I kept searching and looking as close as I can at our fish...

LOL Andrea, it is lovely to be a young OMA..... btw, our little granddaughter calls me OMA ELMO, bwahahaha

I thought that it could be because it's more complicated with goldfish than with bettas or different tropicals. Usually there's a big difference in color, size, shape of the body or fins. So if you compare it that way, it's pretty hard with goldfish d: